Emma was nervous as she walked into her new classroom at Riverside Primary School. Moving to a new city was a little scary, but her family had come here for her father’s new job at the hospital.
“Class, meet Emma,” said Mrs. Chen. “Tell us about yourself, Emma.” Emma’s cheeks turned red as the teacher and all the children looked at her.
“We moved here from another city. My father is a doctor, and we feel like God brought us here.” As she sat down, she thought to herself, Why did I say that last part? Why didn’t I talk about some of my hobbies or things I like to do? The kids probably think I’m really weird.
At lunch Emma sat alone until a girl with a bright smile approached. “Hello! I’m Amira. May I sit here?”
“Please do,” Emma said gratefully. As the girls got to know each other, they talked about their favorite classes, music, and about where Emma had moved from. Then Amira noticed Emma’s lunch.
“Wow!” Amira said. “Your mom packs you a really healthy lunch. I’m lucky if I get a piece of fruit!” she laughed.
Emma looked down at her rice and vegetables. “My mom says we should take good care of our minds and bodies, since the Bible says they ultimately belong to Jesus” (see 1 Cor. 6:19, 20).
“That’s interesting,” Amira said. “I never thought about it that way.”
Two weeks later Amira had a terrible morning. “I failed my math test,” she whispered to Emma, tears in her eyes. “My parents will be so disappointed. And I forgot my lunch money again.”
Emma’s heart hurt for her friend. At lunch she quietly shared her meal with Amira. “Here, my mom always packs extra.”
“Emma, you don’t have to—” Amira started to protest.
“That’s what friends do,” Emma smiled. “Besides, I’ve been praying for you about that test. I believe God can work anything out for good” (see Rom. 8:28).
Amira looked surprised. “You pray for me?”
“Of course!” Emma replied. “God loves you so much, Amira. He cares about everything that worries you, big or small.”
That afternoon Mrs. Chen announced that anyone who failed the mathematics test could retake it on Friday. Amira squeezed Emma’s hand. “Maybe prayer really does help,” she whispered.
Questions About Faith
As their friendship grew, Amira noticed that Emma was different, but in good ways. She never spoke badly about others, always tried to help, and was generally kind to everyone.
“Emma, you’re always so nice, even to mean kids. How do you do that?” Amira asked one day after Emma had helped a classmate who was rude to her.
“Well,” Emma said thoughtfully, “Jesus teaches us to love everyone, even people who aren’t nice to us. When I remember how much He loves me, it makes it easier to love others, too.”
Emma realized that months of simply living out her faith had been like planting seeds.
“Tell me more about Jesus,” Amira said. “My family has our own faith, but I want to understand what makes you so . . . different.”
Emma’s eyes lit up. She couldn’t wait to tell Amira about her Best Friend.
One day Emma invited Amira to visit her family’s small house church gathering. “You don’t have to come if you don’t want to, but we have a loving church family. I think you’d enjoy it.”
Amira was nervous but curious. “I don’t know much about your faith,” she said.
“That’s OK,” Emma assured her. “Nobody expects you to know everything. God just loves it when people want to learn about Him.”
That day Amira experienced something new. The people gathered in Emma’s home were genuinely welcoming—they sang beautiful songs about God’s love, and the speaker talked about how much God cares for everyone, no matter where they come from.
During the children’s time Emma’s teacher shared stories about Jesus helping people and showing kindness to outcasts and foreigners. After the gathering, Emma’s family shared a simple meal with Amira. They played games in the small courtyard, and Emma’s little sister taught Amira to make paper flowers.
“This has been such a wonderful day,” Amira told Emma as they sat in the shade. “I’ve really had a lot of fun. I hope I can come again.”
During the following weeks Amira kept asking questions about God and Jesus. Emma always answered patiently, sharing simple Bible stories and talking about how prayer helped her family through difficult times.
“I’d like to keep learning about Jesus,” Amira told Emma. “Could I get a Bible?”
Emma was thrilled. “Of course! My dad can help us find one.”
One afternoon while the girls were walking home from school, Amira surprised Emma. “Emma, I’ve been thinking a lot about everything you’ve taught me about Jesus. I want to ask Him to forgive my sins and be my Savior. How do I do that?”
Emma’s heart filled with joy. “Amira, that’s the most wonderful decision you could ever make! We just need to pray and tell Jesus that you want Him to forgive your sins and be the Lord of your life.” Right there on the dusty road the friends held hands as Amira prayed, asking Jesus into her heart.
Emma realized that months of simply living out her faith—being kind, helpful, and loving—had been like planting seeds. Now those seeds were growing into something beautiful.
With her parents’ help Emma started inviting interested classmates to a weekly Bible story time at her house. They’d read simple stories about Jesus, learn easy songs, and talk about how God’s love could make a difference in their daily lives.
The Joy of Harvest
By the end of the school term amazing things had happened. Amira had accepted Jesus and was learning to pray every day. Another classmate was attending the house church and growing in his faith. Three other classmates had started coming to Bible story time and asking their parents about learning more about Jesus.
But the most amazing change was in Emma herself. She had started the term as a nervous new girl just hoping to make friends. Now she understood that God had placed her in this school for a special purpose—to be His light in a place that needed hope and love.
“I’m so proud of how you’ve been a witness for Jesus this year,” her mother said one evening as they folded laundry together.
Emma smiled. “I never knew that just being kind and caring could help people want to know Jesus. God really can use anybody—even children like me!”
She knew that this was just the beginning of a lifetime of sharing Jesus’ love with everyone she met.
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matt. 5:16, NIV).
